Step-by-step movement for dispensing apparatus



April 4, 1939.

c. A. RQPP STEP BY STEP MOVEMENT FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS File d Sept. 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l R 4 m 4 v 0 if--- .1 wk t /ii A H w R 6. M. m 7. mb/ 5 5 \XHI/ J V4 2 E l 7% w 0 w a V M w 0 I II ATTORNEY.

c. A. ROPP April 4, 1939i STEP BY STEP MOVEMENT FOR DISPENSING AHARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fly/117117171371"! INVENTOR. Z 5 7'5? 4. ROPP ATTORNEY.

April 4, 1939-. c ROPP 2,152,818

STEP BY STEP MOVEMENT FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS 'Filed Sept. 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet s 60 INVENTOR.

CHEJ 75R 6. ROPP ATTORNEY.

April'4, 1939. I c. A. ROPP 1 2,152,818

STEP BY- STEP MOVEMENT FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

CHE-5 775/? F- ROPP BY m ATTORNEY.

April 4, 1939. c. A. ROPP 2,152,813

STEP BY STEP MOVEMENT FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1957' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NV EN TOR.

6/6 55 7'67? 4. ROPP ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEP-BY-STEP MOVEMENT FOR DISPENS ING APPARATUS Chester A. Ropp, Bloomington, Ill., assignor to Williams Oil- O-Matic Heating Corporation,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bottled beverage dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a step-by-step movement for operating an apparatus of this character of the general type disclosed in this applicants prior co-pending application, Serial No. 137,460, filed April 17, 1937.

It is an object of this invention to provide a closed cabinet for containing bottled goods contained in bottles of uniform size so arranged therein as to be successively removable upon the depositing of a coin to release a manually operable closure to allow the removal of a bottle. It is a further object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, yet positive, mechanism released upon the depositing of a coin therein to be manually operated to uncover a bottle which may be removed at each coin-released operation of the manual operating handle.

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention, with the understanding that minor changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan. view of a cabinet to which this invention has been applied, with the top plate of the cover broken away, illustrating the position of the turn table after the cabinet has been filled and ready to dispense bottles, showing the opening of the turn table over the blank space and covering the adjacent bottles and with the coin releasable, manually operable means locking the turn table against rotation.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the position of the turn table after the manual means has imparted the first step to the turn table to uncover the first bottle to be removed.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the position of the turn table when it exposes the last bottle to be removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cabinet with parts of the top plate of the cover 45 broken away to illustrate the position of the turn operated theturn table to allow the removal of a bottle and is in locked position ready to receive a coin to release the mechanism for the next operation.

Figure 6 is a view part1; in elevation and partly in section of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the position assumed by the elements of the step-by-step mechanism when the operating handle has been released and rotated to the left to impart a step movement to the turn table to uncover a. bottle and with the return spring under tension.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation and partly in section of, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical, transverse view in section, taken on the line 9-9, Figure 8, looking n the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away.

Figure 10 is a horizontal, transverse view in section, taken on the line Ill-10, Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away.

Figure 11 is a detail, plan view of the turn table push dog and spring assembled on the base of the slide.

Figure 12 is a view in elevation of Figure 11, with parts broken away.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary, top plan view, showing a modification of the step-by-step mechanism in a horizontal position.

Figure. 14 is a. View in elevation and partly in sectionof Figure 13, taken on the line |4l4, Figure 13, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The embodiment of this invention is illustrated as applied to a cabinet I, similar to that disclosed in this applicants prior co-pending application, Serial No. 137,460, filed April 17, 1937. The cabinet I is preferably rectangular in cross section, and the top is closed by a. removable cover 2, as shown in Figure 4. The cover includes a top plate 3 spaced apart from a bottom plate 4, as shown in Figure 9. The top plate 3 is provided with a circular opening concentric with the vertical axis of the cabinet which opening terminates in a depending annular flange 5. The bottom plate 4 is provided with a plurality of equal perforations of suificient size for the passage of a bottle therethrough. The perforations are arranged in three circular rows with the outer peripheries of the outer row 6 arranged in line with the inner circumference of the annular flange of the top cover plate 3. An intermediate row of perforations l is arranged upon equally spaced apart centers between every other pair of perforations of the outer row, and an inner row of perforations 8 is formed upon equally spaced apart centers on each side of the perforations forming the intermediate row, in the same manner as disclosed in this applicants said co-pending prior application referred to above.

- A cylindrical turn table 9 is mounted concentrically below the circular opening of the top cover plate 3. The circular top If] of the rotatable turn table 9 is provided with an upstanding annular flange adapted to engage slidably behind the surface of the annular depending flange to position the turn table and the bottom l2 of the turn table, as shown in Figure 9, joined by the cylindrical wall 9 to the flange II, is provided with a central cylindrical bearing member l3 adapted to engage rotatably a stud l4 mounted upon the plate 4 of the cover, whereby the turn table is rotatably mounted within the cover 2 and closes the circular opening in the top plate 3.

The bottom of the rotatable turn table is provided with a radial opening |3a extending from the outer periphery of the outer row of perforations to the inner row of perforations and of a width equal to the diameter of the perforations in the plate 4. The circular top ll! of the turn table is provided with a similar opening and the sides Ma are beveled to join the edges of the opening 3a.

When the turn table is in the position shown in Figure 2, the opening |3a completely uncovers one of the perforations 8 of the inner row while the bottom l2 of the turn table partially covers the adjacent perforations l in the intermediate row and the adjacent perforations t in the outer row so that the bottle below the perforation 8 may be withdrawn from the cabinet while the other bottles are covered, or partially covered, by the turn table. If a step-by-step movement in a clockwise direction is imparted to the turn table from the position shown in Figure 1, the first step will uncover a perforation 8 in the innermost row, as shown in Figure 2, the next step will uncover a perforation 6 in the outermost row, the next step will uncover a perforation 1 in the intermediate row, and the next .step will uncover a perforation 6 in the outermost row, and continued step-by-step movement will uncover the perforations successivelyas above described until the last bottle is removed from the intermediate row. The next perforation which would ordinarily be uncovered in the outermost row 6 is omitted from the plate 4 so that when the cover has been removed and the bottles replaced, the turn table is positioned as shown in Figure 1.

The step-by-step movement, which is the subect matter of this invention, is mounted within a casing I5 supported upon the bottom plate 4 of the cover 2 to be adjacent and parallel to a tangent to the cylindrical surface of the turn table 9 and extends upward through the top plate 3 of the cover, as shown in Figure 9. The construction of the cover 2 and turn table 9 is similar to that disclosed in applicants said co-pending application referred to above.

The mechanism mounted within the casing I5 to impart a step-by-step movement to the turn table includes a base plate I 6 provided with right angular upwardly extending ends I! secured to the bottom l8 of the casing I5 by screws |9. Two spaced apart guide rods 2|] and 2| are supported between the ends I! parallel to and spaced above the base plate l6 for mounting and guiding a reciprocable actuatingmember 22. An operating shaft 23 is mounted for oscillation in the back 24 of the casing l5 above the center of the base plate IS. The operating shaft 23 passes through a commercial coin-controlled mechanism contained within the casing 25 secured upon the exterior of the casing 24 and the exterior of the shaft 23 is provided with a manual operating handle which, in this instance, is in the form of a butterfly 26. The coin-controlled mechanism may be of any type so that it requires the depositing of a coin therein to allow the operating shaft to be rotated through 180 degrees. An enlarged hub 21 is mounted upon the inner portion of the shaft 23 within the casing l5 and a coil spring 23 is secured at one end to a hook or stud 29 upon the uppermost portion of the hub 21 when the butterfly 23 is in a horizontal position, before it has actuated the reciprocating mechanism, with the other end of the spring 28 attached to a lug 30 secured to the side of the Casing l5 above the adjacent end ll of the base plate It. The tension on the spring is such that as the butterfly handle rotates the shaft through 180 degrees, in a clockwise direction, the end attached thereto will stretch the spring about the circumference of the hub and place it under sufiicient tension so that when the handle is released, the spring will return the shaft to its original position. The interior end of the shaft mounts a crank arm 3| secured thereto by a nut 32 so that the arm 3! will extend normally to the left of the shaft with its aXis lying in the plane of the axis of the butterfly handle 26 when in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 6. The free end of the crank 3| mounts a shouldered stud 33 within roller for cooperation with the reciprocable actuating member 22.

The reciprocable actuating member 22 is in the form of a flat plate extending upward from a block 34 mounted to reciprocate upon the guide rods 23 and 2| with the fiat surface thereof parallel to the back 2 3 of the casing l5 and is provided with an angular slot 35 extending downwardly from its upper edge and so arranged that when the block 34 is at the end of its travel toward the left end of the casing l5, as shown in Figure 6, the stud 33 of the crank arm 3| is received within the upper portion of the slot 35. In oscillating the crank 3| by the operation of the butterfly handle 23, the stud 33 first travels downwardly in the slot 35 and then imparts a movement toward the right end of the casing l5, as shown in Figure 8. Upon releasing the butterfly handle 26, the spring 28 returns the crank 3| and block 34 to the first position shown in Figure 6.

In order to utilize this reciprocatory movement of the actuating member 22 to impart a step-bystep movement to the turn table, the cylindrical surface of the turn table is provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart rectangular openings 36, best shown in Figure 9, and the reciprocating block is provided with a pivoted dog adapted to engage its free end with the body of the turn table bounding one vertical edge of an opening 36. As shown in detail in Figures 11 and 12, the dog 31 is pivoted at one end to the under side of the block 34 and its free end is normally held in sliding engagement with the cylindrical surface of the turn table 9 by a spring 38 and is so arranged that when the block 34 has been reciprocated to the end of its travel toward the left hand of the casing 5, as shown in Figure 5, the free end of the dog, which is notched, as shown in Figure 10, will enter within an opening 36 and engage the notch thereof with the body of the cylindrical turn table. Upon reciprocating the actuating member 22 by the butterflyhandle 23', the turn table will be advanced in a clockwise direction a sufficient distance to cause the opening l3 to uncover a bottle for removal from the cabinet.

In order to prevent movement in either direction to the turn table after the block has been reciprocated after the imparting of movement thereto, two dogs are provided adapted to coact with the openings 36 to lock the turn table. The dog 39 is pivoted at one end upon the base plate l3 and secured upon the end of a post 40 extending therethrough, through the bottom l8 of the casing and bottom plate 4 of the cover 2. The dog 4| is likewise pivotally mounted upon the base plate l6 upon a similarly mounted post 42. The posts 40 and 42 are arranged, preferably, adjacent to and similarly spaced apart from the vertical center of the casing l5. The free end of the dog 39 is curved outwardly to engage slidably the cylindrical surface of the turn table 9 and is held in engagement therewith by a removable spring 43 mounted upon the back 24 of the casing so that the free end will slide into an opening 36 as the turn table uncovers a bottle for removal, and will then engage the boundary or the opening 36 to prevent further rotation of the turn table in a clockwise direction. The free end of the dog 4| is provided with a hook-like extension 44, and is urged, normally, to engage slidably the cylindrical surface of the turn table by a removable spring 45 mounted upon the back 24 of the casing l5, and as the turn table is rotated, the nose of end 44 of dog 4| is always in sliding engagement with turn table until the block 34 with track portion 48 is moved far enough to engage pin 41. This keeps dog 4| from engaging in slot 35 during the rest of step-by-step movement. The nose of end 44 also is in sliding engagement with turn table when block 34 is in starting position so that if a coin is put in mechanism and turned just far enough to release dog 39, then held in that position, and turn table enough to let hooked end 44 drop in slot 36 which would not be far enough to uncover the next bottle, but if coin mechanism is turned the rest of the way, portion 48 of track will disengage hooked end 44 so that a complete movement will be made.

In order that the dogs 39 and 4| may be withdrawn to free the turn table and allow the dog 31 to transmit a step-by-step movement thereto when the butterfly handle 26 is oscillated against the tension of the spring 28, pins 46 and 41 are provided upon the upper surface of the dogs 39 and 4|, as shown in Figure 10. The under side of the block 34 is cut away, as shown in the dotted lines in Figure 11, so that as the block moves from left to right, the portion 48 of the track provided by the cut-away portion will engage the pin 41 to withdraw the dog 4|, and at the same time, the portion 49 of the track will engage the pin 46 and withdraw the dog 39, and as the block approaches the right-hand of its travel, a track portion 50 releases the dog 39 to engage, momentarily, the turn table 9. As the block 34 is reciprocated to the left of its movement, the portions 48, 49 and 50 of the track provided by cutting away the under side of the block 34 travel over the pins 41 and 46 and allow the dogs 39 and" 4| to hold the table against rotation in either direction. It is also preferable to provide an additional safety latch to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of the table when the dogs 39 and 4| are retracted. This safety dog 5| is pivotally mounted at one end upon the under plate 4 of the cover 2, preferably at a distance from the stepby-step movement casing l5, and is urged, normally, to maintain its free end to be wiped over by the cylindrical portion of the turn table by a spring 52. It is so located that when the turn table uncovers a bottle for removal, the dog 5| will engage in an opening 36 and lock the turn table against counter=clockwise movement.

Provision is also made after the last bottle has been removed to prevent further movement of the step-by-=ste'p mechanism when a coin is inserted. To accomplish this, a locking lever 53 is pivoted at one end upon the block 30 to which the spring 28 is attached, and is of sufficient length that when the actuating member 22 has been reciprocated to the opposite end of its movement, the free end thereof will drop behind the block 34 and prevent movement in the opposite direction. In order to maintain the free end of the lever 53 out of engaging position with the block 34 until the last bottle has been removed, the opposite end of the lever 53 is extended downwardly and then outwardly through the wall of the casing |5 and is terminated in an angular extension 54. A bell crank lever is pivotally mounted at its apex upon the top of a block 55 secured to the lower plate 4 of the cover 2 adjacent the int-urned flange 5 of the top plate thereof by screws 55a. One arm 55 of the bell crank lever normally, frictionally engages the side of the angular extension 54 of the locking lever 53 to hold the free end thereof out of the path of travel of the block 34, the other arm 51 of the bell crank lever is so constructed that its free end is wiped over by the cylindrical surface of the turn table when the arm 56 engages the end 54. A slot 58 is provided in the cylindrical surface of the turn table so positioned as to register with the free end of the arm 51 as the last bottle has been removed, and the slot will allow a rotation of the bell crank lever, preferably acted upon by the weight of lever 53, to free the locking lever 53 which drops in place to prevent a further rotation of the turn table III, or travel of the sliding block 34, as shown in Figure 6.

After the last bottle has been removed and the cover lifted to refill the cabinet, it is necessary that the turn table be given another step to cause the opening |3a to lie over the continuous surface of the plate 4 between the outer row of perforations 6, as shown in Figure 1. To allow of this movement, it is necessary to free the dogs 39 and 4| so that the turn table |0 may be moved in a clockwise direction. To accomplish this, each of the posts 40 and 42 which mount these dogs are provided with release pins 59 and 69 which pass diametrically through the respective posts and are pivoted therein to depend therefrom, as shown in Figures 6 and 8. When it is desired to retract the free ends of the dogs 39 and 4|, these release pins 59 and 60 are rotated to a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 9, and their free ends are brought together with the result that the posts 40 and 42 are oscillated in opposite direction to withdraw the free ends of the latches 39 and 4| against the tension of the springs 43 and 45. The arm 51 of bell crank lever is retracted from the slot 58 in the turn table, as the inside curved surface at the end of arm 51 rides over the edge of the slot when turn table is rotated clockwise. As soon as the desired movement has been imparted to the turn table ID, the release of the pins will free the dogs 39 and 4| so that the openings 36 will again be engaged thereby.

It may be desirable to construct the step-bystep mechanism to be contained below the top cover plate 3 and this may be readily accomplished, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, by extending the actuator 22a horizontally from the upper surface of the reciprocating block 34 in the direction of the corner of the cover below the top cover plate 3 and mounting the operating shaft in a vertical bearing in the top cover plate 3 to cooperate with the actuator 22a in the same manner as hereinbefore described. In this form, the coin-controlled mechanism is contained in a casing 25a secured in a horizontal position upon the upper surface of the top cover plate 3. In this form, the lug a, to which one end of the spring 28 is attached, is secured to the end I! of the base plate l6, as shown in Figure 13. The construction and operation 'of the other parts are the same as hereinbefore described.

What I claim is:

1. A step-by-step movement for a cylindrical turn table having a plurality of equally spaced apart rectangular openings in its circumference including a base adjacent and parallel to a tangent to the turn table, a block mounted to reciprocate above said base, manually operable means to reciprocate said block, a dog pivoted at one end to said block having its free end slidably engaging the circumference of the turn table adapted to slide thereover and drop in an opening therein when the block is reciprocated in one direction and thereafter rotate the turn table as the block is reciprocated in the opposite direction, two latches pivoted upon the base adjacent and on opposite sides of the center thereof with springs normally forcing the free ends of the respective latches into sliding engagement with the cylindrical surface of the turn table, the free ends of said latches adapted to engage openings in the turn table to lock the turn table against rotation in either-direction, pins on the upper side of each of said latches intermediate the ends coacting with a track on the under side of the block to depress the free ends from engagement with the openings in the turn table as the block starts its reciprocation to impart a movement thereto, said latches pivoted to the base by being secured to the upper ends of respective posts extending through and rotatably mounted in said base, the lower ends of each post provided with manually operable release pins adapted by manual operation to rotate the posts to withdraw the free ends of the latches from engagement With the turn table to allow a manual rotation thereof.

2. A step-by-step movement for a cylindrical turn table having a plurality of equally spaced apart rectangular openings'in its circumference including a base adjacent and parallel to a tangent to the turn table, ablock mounted to reciprocate above said base, manually operable means to reciprocate said block, a dog pivoted at one end to said block having its free end slidably engaging the circumference of the turn table adapted to slide thereover and drop in an opening therein when the block is reciprocated in one direction and thereafter rotate the turn table as the block is reciprocated'in the opposite direction, a lock latch pivoted at one end and adjacent one end of the base normally adapted to engage its free end with the adjacent end of the block upon its reciprocation after imparting a movement to the turn table to prevent further reciprocation thereof, and means cooperating with the cylindrical surface of the turn table to hold the latch in inoperative position until the turn table has made one complete revolution and then look it against further movement.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a pivoted bell crank lever having one end normally in engagement with the lock latch to hold its free end out of the path of the reciprocating block and the other end normally held in sliding engagement with the cylindrical surface of the turn table adapted to cooperate with a slit in said surface to free the lock latch.

CHESTER A. ROPP. 

